National Museum of the American Indian

This museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is housed in the spectacular former US Customs House (which celebrated its centennial in 2007), near the southernmost point of Manhattan. It’s an ironically grand space for the country’s leading museum on Native American art, established by oil heir George Gustav Heye in 1916. The facility’s information center is in the former duty-collection office, with computer banks located next to old wrought-iron teller booths.

The galleries are on the 2nd floor, beyond a vast rotunda featuring statues of famous navigators and murals celebrating shipping history. This museum does little to explain the history of Native Americans but instead concentrates on Native American culture, boasting a million-item collection of crafts and everyday objects. Computer touch-screens feature insights into Native American life and beliefs, and working artists offer explanations of their techniques. The museum also hosts a range of cultural programs, including dance and music performances, readings for children, craft demonstrations, films and workshops. A shop on the 1st floor is well-stocked with Native American jewelry, books, CDs and crafts.